Charge of Stealing.

Taranaki Daily News, Volume XLVII, Issue 7829, 23 May 1905, Page 3

Charge of Stealing.

A SUCCESSFUL KUSE. '•* At the Police Court on Mondaj a young man named Christopher Urdu! well'was charged with stealing the sum of £4 10s, the property of T. Knowles, of the Breakwater Hotel. Mr T. S. Weston appeared in conjunction with the police lor the prosecution, while Air F. E. Wilson appeared . on behalf of the accused, who •pleaded "not guilty." Evidence for the prosecution was given by' Detective Benjamin. T. Knowles, and John Morgan. It appeared that' the accused had been • in Mr Knowles' employ at the Breakwater Hotel for the last thro? montha and previous to this he had served -as a steward on a boat.r Owing to the servants at the hotel and lodgers complaining of various thefts, the • proprietor was led to suspect the accused, and consulted Detective Ben- ■:, jamin oh Saturday morning. In order to test the accused a civilian named "Jack" Morgan became acquainted': withi, joo, Saturday ( night, supplied by- Mr Khdwles, and feigned drunkenness. In G.radwell's presence the proprietor handed Morgan ■ four one-pound notes, a half-sover-eign, and some silver in change for a five-pound note. Morgan put the silver in his trousers-pocket, and the notes and half-sovereign in a purse which, ha pJaoed in his coat pocket. *' ' Knowles asScd the' accused to v 'take Morgan up to his room, and see him Mflely to bed. GradweH escort•ed Morgan ap to* his room, where DeMCTive '■Brtjajnin was. secreted. Morgan threw off his coat and vest, and then left the room, saying he was going to get another bottle of beer. As soon as Morgan was out- . side, the accused' was seen by the j detective to pick up Morgan's ' coat and take the purse out of the pocket. , He put the half-sovereign in his ; -mouth, but the detective did not aciualjy see, him take the four onepound notes, as he was facing In the . opposite direction. On replacing the

purse accused left the room, and went along the passage, returning

hurriedly when Morgan came upptairs.. Detective Benjamin then searched the accused,.but did not find-any of- the stolen money on him, i although Morgan's purse, was found

to have been emptied. As they were - going "Out the notes were picKed up

•in the passage, wrapped in paper. ? *-*''l*c '<«llowing day Mrs Knowles L - found t)» remaining, half-sovereign in accused's rooui. The" notes 'wer«

identified by number, and the coin by itte mark which the proprietor had •- placed on. it- This concluded the evidence for the prosecution. .- Acaned having made a in defence, was remanded to the following day for sentence. -'